Illuminating lens, lighting device, surface light source, and liquid-crystal display apparatus

- Panasonic

A light exit surface of an illuminating lens has a first light exit surface and a second light exit surface. The first light exit surface is recessed toward a point on the optical axis, and the second light exit surface extends outwardly from the periphery of the first light exit surface. The first light exit surface has a transmissive region and a total reflection region. When the position of a light source on the optical axis is defined as a starting point, the transmissive region transmits light that has been emitted from the starting point at a relatively small angle with respect to the optical axis, and the total reflection region totally reflects light that has been emitted from the starting point at a relatively large angle with respect to the optical axis. A reflective layer is formed on a bottom surface that surrounds a light entrance surface and faces oppositely to the light exit surface. The reflective layer reflects light that has been emitted from the light source, totally reflected repeatedly at the light exit surface, and then reached the bottom surface.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an illuminating lens for widening a range of transmission directions for light from a light source such as a light emitting diode, and to a lighting device using this illuminating lens. The present invention further relates to a surface light source including a plurality of lighting devices, and to a liquid-crystal display apparatus in which this surface light source is disposed behind a liquid-crystal panel to serve as a backlight.

2. Description of Related Art

In a conventional backlight of a large-sized liquid-crystal display apparatus, a number of cold cathode tubes are disposed immediately below a liquid-crystal panel, and these cold cathode tubes are used with other members such as a diffusing plate and a reflecting plate. In recent years, light emitting diodes have been used as light sources for backlights. Light emitting diodes have increased their efficiency recently, and are expected to serve as low-power light sources to replace fluorescent lamps. In the case where light emitting diodes are used as a light source in a liquid-crystal display apparatus, the power consumption of the apparatus can be reduced by controlling the light and dark states of the light emitting diodes according to an image to be displayed.

In a backlight of a liquid-crystal display apparatus using light emitting diodes as a light source, a large number of light emitting diodes are disposed therein instead of cold cathode tubes. The use of a large number of light emitting diodes allows the entire surface of the backlight to have uniform brightness, but the need for such a large number of light emitting diodes is an obstacle to cost reduction. In view of this, attempts to increase the output power of each light emitting diode to reduce the required number of light emitting diodes have been made. For example, Japanese Patent No. 3875247 has proposed a lens that is designed to provide a uniform surface light source with a reduced number of light emitting diodes.

In order to obtain a uniform surface light source with a reduced number of light emitting diodes, the area to be irradiated with the light emitted from each light emitting diode needs to be increased. That is, light emitted from each light emitting diode needs to be spread to obtain a wider range of transmission directions for light from the diode. For this purpose, in Japanese Patent No. 3875247, a lens having a circular shape in a plan view is disposed on a light emitting diode as a chip to control the directivity of the chip. The light exit surface of this lens, through which light exits the lens, has a shape such that a portion in the vicinity of the optical axis is a concave and a portion surrounding the concave is a convex extending continuously from the concave.

On the other hand, JP 2008-305923 A has proposed a lens that is designed to provide a more uniform surface light source. In this lens, light that has been Fresnel reflected at the light exit surface of the lens back to the light entrance surface side thereof is reflected again by total reflection to be guided toward the surface to be irradiated.

A light emitting diode as a chip emits light mostly in the front direction of the light emitting diode chip. In the lens disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3875247, light that has been emitted in the front direction of the chip is refracted at the concave surface in the vicinity of the optical axis and diffused. As a result, the surface to be irradiated is illuminated to have a wide illuminance distribution with a reduced illuminance in the vicinity of the optical axis.

In the lens disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3875247, however, the light emitted from the light source needs to be refracted, and therefore the difference in height between the concave and the convex must be reduced to a certain level. That is, there is a limit to a widening of the range of transmission directions for light from the light source. The lens disclosed in JP 2008-305923 A has the same limit because it is designed to distribute the light emitted from the chip by utilizing the refraction of the light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an illuminating lens capable of further widening the range of transmission directions for light from a light source, and to provide a lighting device, a surface light source, and a liquid-crystal display apparatus each including this illuminating lens.

In order to achieve the above object, the present inventors have considered it important, in obtaining a wider range of transmission directions for light from a light source, to distribute radially the intense light that has been emitted in the front direction of the light emitting diode chip, and come up with an idea of distributing radially the light emitted in the front direction of the light emitting diode chip by utilizing intentionally the total reflection of the light. Accordingly, the present inventors have conceived an illuminating lens described below.

That is, the illuminating lens is a lens for spreading light emitted from a light source so that a surface to be irradiated is irradiated with the spread light, and includes: a light entrance surface through which the light emitted from the light source enters the lens; and a light exit surface through which the light that has entered the lens exits the lens. The light exit surface has a first light exit surface and a second light exit surface. The first light exit surface is recessed toward a point on an optical axis of the illuminating lens, and the second light exit surface extends outwardly from a periphery of the first light exit surface to form a convex. The first light exit surface has a transmissive region located in the center of the first light exit surface and a total reflection region located around the transmissive region. When the position of the light source on the optical axis is defined as a starting point, the transmissive region transmits light that has been emitted from the starting point at a relatively small angle with respect to the optical axis and then reached the first light exit surface, and the total reflection region totally reflects light that has been emitted from the starting point at a relatively large angle with respect to the optical axis and then reached the first light exit surface. The second light exit surface has a shape capable of transmitting approximately the entire amount of light that has been emitted from the starting point and then reached the second light exit surface.

In the illuminating lens configured as described above, the range of transmission directions for light from the light source can be widened more by utilizing positively the total reflection of light. As shown in FIG. 27, in this illuminating lens, the light is totally reflected at the total reflection region of the first light exit surface in the light exit surface 112. Then, a part of the light again is totally reflected repeatedly at the second light exit surface extending outwardly from the first light exit surface, and reaches the bottom surface 113 that surrounds the light entrance surface 111 and faces oppositely to the light exit surface 112. The light that has reached the bottom surface 113 passes through the bottom surface 113, and then is reflected at the member 130 (for example, a substrate) that faces the bottom surface 113 to be guided toward the surface to be irradiated. In this case, the position on the surface to be irradiated reached by the light reflected from the member 130 is determined by the clearance between the bottom surface 113 and the member 130, but the cost for maintaining the clearance with a high degree of accuracy is high. For this reason, it is desired that the illuminance on the surface to be irradiated be stabilized with a lower cost configuration. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances.

The present invention provides an illuminating lens for spreading light emitted from a light source so that a surface to be irradiated is irradiated with the spread light. The lens includes: a light entrance surface through which the light emitted from the light source enters the lens; a light exit surface through which the light that has entered the lens exits the lens; and a bottom surface configured to surround the light entrance surface and to face oppositely to the light exit surface. In this illuminating lens, the light exit surface has a first light exit surface and a second light exit surface. The first light exit surface is recessed toward a point on an optical axis of the illuminating lens, and the second light exit surface extends outwardly from a periphery of the first light exit surface to form a convex. The first light exit surface has a transmissive region located in the center of the first light exit surface and a total reflection region located around the transmissive region. The transmissive region transmits light that has been emitted from a starting point at a relatively small angle with respect to the optical axis and then reached the first light exit surface, when a position of the light source on the optical axis is defined as the starting point. The total reflection region totally reflects light that has been emitted from the starting point at a relatively large angle with respect to the optical axis and then reached the first light exit surface. The second light exit surface has a shape capable of transmitting approximately the entire amount of light that has been emitted from the starting point and then reached the second light exit surface, and of totally reflecting approximately the entire amount of the light that has been totally reflected at the total reflection region and then reached the second light exit surface. A reflective layer is formed on the bottom surface to reflect light that has been emitted from the light source, totally reflected repeatedly at the light exit surface, and then reached the bottom surface.

Herein, “approximately the entire amount” means at least 90% of the entire amount. It may be the entire amount, and may be an amount slightly smaller than the entire amount.

The present invention also provides a lighting device including: a light emitting diode for emitting light; and an illuminating lens for spreading light emitted from the light emitting diode so that a surface to be irradiated is irradiated with the spread light. This illuminating lens is the above-mentioned illuminating lens.

The present invention further provides a surface light source including: a plurality of lighting devices arranged in a plane; and a diffusing plate disposed to cover the plurality of lighting devices, and configured to receive on one surface thereof light emitted from the plurality of lighting devices and to emit the light from the other surface thereof in a diffused manner. Each of the plurality of lighting devices is the above-mentioned lighting device.

The present invention still further provides a liquid-crystal display apparatus including: a liquid-crystal panel; and the above-mentioned surface light source disposed behind the liquid-crystal panel.

According to the present invention, it is possible not only to obtain a wider range of transmission directions for light from the light source but also to stabilize the illuminance of the surface to be irradiated with a low cost configuration in which a reflective layer is formed on the bottom surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an illuminating lens according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the main portions of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a lighting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing optical paths of light rays that reach a transmissive region of a first light exit surface of the lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing optical paths of light rays that reach a total reflection region of a first light exit surface of the lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing optical paths of light rays that exist the lighting device through a second light exit surface thereof according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining Examples 1 to 3 of the lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a relationship between θi and sagY, which represent the shape of the light exit surface in Example 1 of the lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention (i.e., a graph obtained by plotting the values in Table 1).

FIG. 9 is a graph showing a relationship between θi and sagY, which represent the shape of the light exit surface in Example 2 of the lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention (i.e., a graph obtained by plotting the values in Table 2).

FIG. 10 is a graph showing a relationship between θi and sagY, which represent the shape of the light exit surface in Example 3 of the lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention (i.e., a graph obtained by plotting the values in Table 3).

FIG. 11 is a graph showing a relationship between r/R and θi-θn in Example 1 of the lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing a relationship between r/R and θi-θn in Example 2 of the lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing a relationship between r/R and θi-θn in Example 3 of the lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows an illuminance distribution in Example 1 of the lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows an illuminance distribution in Example 2 of the lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 shows an illuminance distribution in Example 3 of the lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 shows an illuminance distribution obtained when only light emitting diodes are used to confirm the effects of Examples 1 to 3.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a surface light source according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a partial cross-sectional view of the surface light source according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 shows an illuminance distribution obtained when the lighting device of Example 1 is used in the surface light source according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 shows an illuminance distribution obtained when the lighting device of Example 2 is used in the surface light source according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 shows an illuminance distribution obtained when the lighting device of Example 3 is used in the surface light source according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 shows an illuminance distribution obtained when a surface light source including lighting devices each composed of only a light emitting diode is used to confirm the effects of Examples 1 to 3.

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of a liquid-crystal display apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a plan view of a modified illuminating lens.

FIG. 26A and FIG. 26B are each a plan view of an illuminating lens of another embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of an illuminating lens that has been conceived before.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION First Embodiment

An illuminating lens according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an illuminating lens 1 according to the first embodiment. The illuminating lens 1, which is disposed between a light source (not shown in FIG. 1) having directivity and a surface to be irradiated 3, spreads light emitted from the light source and emits the spread light to the surface to be irradiated 3. That is, the illuminating lens 1 widens the range of transmission directions for light from the light source. In the illuminance distribution on the surface to be irradiated 3, the illuminance is greatest on the optical axis A that is the design center line of the illuminating lens 1 and decreases almost monotonically toward the edge. The light source and the illuminating lens 1 are disposed so that their optical axes coincide with each other.

Specifically, the illuminating lens 1 has a light entrance surface 11 through which the light emitted from the light source enters the lens and a light exit surface 12 through which the light that has entered the lens exits the lens. The illuminating lens 1 has a bottom surface 13 surrounding the light entrance surface 11 and facing oppositely to the light exit surface 12. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a radially outwardly projecting ring portion 15 is provided between the light exit surface 12 and the bottom surface 13. The periphery of the light exit surface 12 is joined to the outer edge of the bottom surface 13 via the outer surface of the ring portion 15 having an approximately U-shaped cross section. The ring portion 15 may be omitted. In this case, the periphery of the light exit surface 12 may be joined to the outer edge of the bottom surface 13 with an end face having a straight or arcuate cross section.

In the present embodiment, the light exit surface 12 is axisymmetric with respect to the optical axis A. The contour of the illuminating lens 1 in plan view need not be axisymmetric with respect to the optical axis A. For example, as shown in FIG. 25, the illuminating lens 1 may have an oval shape, in which the ring portion 15 has a pair of flat portions 15a that are parallel to each other across the optical axis A, when viewed from the optical axis direction.

The light entrance surface 11 need not be axisymmetric with respect to the optical axis A. In the present embodiment, the region that is connected optically to the light source is the light entrance surface 11. Preferably, the annular bottom surface 13 surrounding the light entrance surface 11 is flat. In FIG. 1, the light entrance surface 11 and the bottom surface 13 are on the same level, but there may be a level difference between the light entrance surface 11 and the bottom surface 13. For example, the illuminating lens 1 may be configured such that the light entrance surface 11 is located closer to the light exit surface 12 than the bottom surface 13 and the light source is fitted in the recess formed by the level difference between the surfaces 11 and 13. The light entrance surface 11 need not necessarily be joined directly to the light source. For example, the light entrance surface 11 may be recessed in a hemispherical shape so that an air space is formed between the light entrance surface 11 and the light source.

The light emitted from the light source enters the illuminating lens 1 through the light entrance surface 11, exits the lens 1 through the light exit surface 12, and then reaches the surface to be irradiated 3. The light emitted from the light source is spread by the action of the light exit surface 12, and reaches a large area of the surface to be irradiated 3.

As the light source, for example, a light emitting diode can be used. Light emitting diodes usually are chips with a rectangular plate shape. Therefore, it is preferable that the light entrance surface 11 of the illuminating lens 1 have a shape conforming to the shape of a light emitting diode to fit in close contact with the light emitting diode. The light emitting diode is in contact with the light entrance surface 11 of the illuminating lens 1 via a bonding agent, and connected optically to the light entrance surface 11. The light emitting diode usually is covered with a sealing resin to avoid contact with air. As a conventional sealing resin for a light emitting diode, an epoxy resin, silicone rubber, or the like is used.

The illuminating lens 1 is made of a transparent material having a specified refractive index. The refractive index of the transparent material is, for example, about 1.4 to 1.5. Examples of such a transparent material include resins such as epoxy resin, silicone resin, acrylic resin, and polycarbonate, and rubbers such as silicone rubber. Particularly, it is preferable to use epoxy resin, silicone rubber, or the like that has been used as a sealing resin for a light emitting diode.

The light exit surface 12 includes a first light exit surface 121 that is recessed toward a point on the optical axis A, and a second light exit surface 122 extending radially outwardly from the periphery of the first light exit surface 121 to form a convex. Light enters the illuminating lens 1 through the light entrance surface 11 at a wide range of angles. Light that has entered the lens at a small angle with respect to the optical axis A reaches the first light exit surface 121, and light that has entered the lens at a larger angle with respect to the optical axis A reaches the second light exit surface 122.

Next, the shapes of the first light exit surface 121 and the second light exit surface 122 will be described. For that purpose, a starting point Q is defined first, and then light emitted from the starting point Q is assumed. As stated herein, the starting point Q is the position of the light source on the optical axis A. In the case where a light emitting diode is used as a light source, the starting point Q is the point of intersection of the optical axis A and the light emitting surface that is the front surface of the light emitting diode. That is, the starting point Q is spaced from the light entrance surface 11 by the thickness of the above-mentioned bonding agent. When an angle between the optical axis A and a line connecting the starting point Q and the boundary between the first light exit surface 121 and the second light exit surface 122 is θb, light that has been emitted from the starting point Q at an angle reaches the first light exit surface 121 or the second light exit surface 122 based on the angle θb as a threshold angle.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first light exit surface 121 includes a transmissive region 123 located in the center of the first light exit surface 121 and a total reflection region 124 located around the transmissive region 123. The transmissive region 123 transmits light that has been emitted from the starting point Q at a relatively small angle of less than a specified value of θp with respect to the optical axis A and reached the first light exit surface 121, and the total reflection region 124 totally reflects light that has been emitted from the starting point Q at a relatively large angle of θp or more with respect to the optical axis A and reached the first light exit surface 121. That is, θp is an angle between the optical axis A and a line connecting a point P and the starting point Q, when the point P is a point on the boundary between the transparent region 123 and the total reflection region 124.

On the other hand, the second light exit surface 122 has a shape capable of transmitting approximately the entire amount of light that has been emitted from the starting point Q and reached the second light exit surface 122, and totally reflecting approximately the entire amount of the light that has been totally reflected at the total reflection region 124 and reached the second light exit surface 122. The angle between the optical axis A and the light emitted from the starting point Q increases toward the outer edge of the second light exit surface 122. The angle of the light emitted from the starting point Q with respect to a normal line at the point on the second light exit surface 122 reached by the emitted light is the incident angle of the light with respect to the second light exit surface 122. An excessively large incident angle causes total reflection. The incident angle needs to be kept small in order to prevent total reflection. Accordingly, the second light exit surface 122 has a shape such that the angle between the normal line and the optical axis A increases with increasing distance from the optical axis A. That is, the shape of the second light exit surface 122 is a convex.

The entire second light exit surface 122 need not necessarily transmit the light emitted from the starting point Q (i.e., the second light exit surface 122 need not transmit the entire amount of the light). The second light exit surface 122 may have a shape capable of totally reflecting a part of the light emitted from the starting point Q and transmitting the remaining part of the light.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an annular reflective layer 10 is formed on the bottom surface 13, as shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, the reflective layer 10 has a ring shape extending radially outwardly from the optical axis A. The light emitted from the light source is totally reflected at the total reflection region 124 of the first light exit surface 121 and then reaches the second light exit surface 122 (see FIG. 5). A part of the light that has reached the second light exit surface 122 passes through the second light exit surface 122, but most of the remaining part of the light is totally reflected one or more times again at the second light exit surface 122. The light travels along the second light exit surface 122 while being totally reflected one or more times again at the second light exit surface 122, and then reaches the bottom surface 13. The reflective layer 10 reflects the light that has reached the bottom surface 13 in this way. That is, the reflective layer 10 reflects the light that has been totally reflected repeatedly at the light exit surface 12 (i.e., the total reflection region 124 of the first light exit surface 121 and the second light exit surface 122) and then reached the bottom surface 13.

The reflective layer 10 may be formed of a reflective film obtained by applying a reflective material on the bottom surface 13 and curing the material. The reflective layer 10 also may be formed of a reflective sheet attached to the bottom surface 13. Preferably, the reflective layer 10 has a reflectance of at least 65%. This is because a reflectance of less than 65% increases the loss of light in the reflective layer 10, which causes a decrease in irradiation efficiency and an uneven illuminance.

In the illuminating lens 1 configured as described above, the most part of the light that has been emitted from the light source and reached the transmissive region 123 located in the center of the first light exit surface 121 is refracted at the transmissive region 123, and thus the area surrounding the optical axis A of the lens on the surface to be irradiated 3 is irradiated with the refracted light. On the other hand, the most part of the light that has been emitted from the light source and reached the total reflection region 124 located on the peripheral side of the first light exit surface 121 is totally reflected at the total reflection region 124. The most part of the totally reflected light reaches the bottom surface 13, is reflected at the reflective layer 10, and then the surface to be irradiated 3 is irradiated with the reflected light. Furthermore, the most part of the light that has been emitted from the light source and reached the second light exit surface 122 is refracted at the second light exit surface 122, and thus the area away from the optical axis A of the lens on the surface to be irradiated 3 is irradiated with the refracted light. Accordingly, the illuminating lens 1 of the present embodiment allows the range of transmission directions for light from the light source to be widened further. Therefore, the outer diameter of the lens of the present embodiment may be smaller than that of a conventional lens having a concave for only refracting light.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the light that has reached the bottom surface 13 can be guided definitely toward the surface to be irradiated 3 with a low cost configuration in which the reflective layer 10 is formed on the bottom surface 13. As a result, the illuminance of the surface to be irradiated 3 can be stabilized.

The basic configuration of the illuminating lens 1 of the present embodiment has been described so far. A preferable configuration of the illuminating lens 1 of the present embodiment will be described below.

Preferably, the reflective layer 10 has a circular annular shape, and satisfies the following inequalities (1) and (2).
RLS/R<Rin/R<0.78  (1)
0.75<Rout/R  (2)
where Rin is an internal radius of the reflective layer, Rout is an outer radius of the reflective layer, RLS is a radius of a smallest circle circumscribing the light source, and R is an outermost radius of the illuminating lens.

These inequalities (1) and (2) define the proportion of the area of the reflective layer 10 on the bottom surface 13, and indicate the range of proportions for controlling suitably the amount of light directed to the surface to be irradiated 3. As for the inequality (1), when the value of Rin/R is smaller than that of RLS/R, the reflective layer intrudes between the lens and the light source, which causes a decrease in the amount of light emitted from the light source. In the case where the reflective layer is a reflective sheet, if the diameter of the hole in the sheet is small, the sheet cannot be attached properly to the bottom surface of the lens. In such a case, air enters the space between the lens and the light source and good optical contact cannot be obtained due to a twist of the sheet, or the lens is decentered when the sheet is attached, which causes an uneven illuminance. When Rin/R is 0.78 or more, the reflective layer has less effect on light, and cannot control the decrease in irradiation efficiency and uneven illuminance. As for the inequality (2), when Rout/R is 0.75 or less, the reflective layer has less effect on light, and cannot control the decrease in irradiation efficiency and uneven illuminance.

The reflective layer 10 may reflect specularly the light that has reached the bottom surface 13, but preferably, it diffusely reflects the light that has reached the bottom surface 13. With such a configuration, the illuminance can be adjusted easily by utilizing the reflective properties of the reflective layer 10.

The illuminating lens of the present invention also is applicable to light sources (such as lasers and organic ELs) as well as light emitting diodes.

In the present embodiment, the light exit surface 12 is axisymmetric with respect to the optical axis A. The light exit surface 12, however, need not be axisymmetric with respect to the optical axis A. For example, as shown in FIG. 26A, the light exit surface 12 may have an elliptical shape when viewed from the optical axis direction. This illuminating lens 1 is suitable particularly for an elongated light source. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 26B, the light exit surface 12 may have a rounded rectangular shape when viewed from the optical axis direction.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a lighting device 7 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This lighting device 7 includes a light emitting diode 2 for emitting light, and an illuminating lens 1 of the first embodiment for spreading light emitted from the light emitting diode 2 so that the surface to be irradiated 3 is irradiated with the spread light.

The light emitting diode 2 is in contact with the light entrance surface 11 of the illuminating lens 1 via a bonding agent, and connected optically to the light entrance surface 11. The light that has exited the illuminating lens 1 through the light exit surface 12 reaches the surface to be irradiated 3, and thus the surface to be irradiated 3 is illuminated with that light.

Light generation in the light emitting diode 2 has no directivity in itself, and a light emitting region has a refractive index of at least 2.0. When light from the light emitting region enters a low refractive region, the refraction of the light at the interface causes the light to have the maximum intensity in the normal direction of the interface and to have a lower intensity as the angle of the light with respect to the normal line increases. As described above, since the light emitting diode 2 has high directivity, it is necessary to widen the range of transmission directions for light therefrom using the illuminating lens 1 to illuminate a larger area.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the paths of light rays in the lighting device 7. In FIG. 4, the paths of light rays that are emitted from the light source at small angles and reach the transmissive region 123 (see FIG. 2) of the first light exit surface 121 are described. The light that has been emitted from the light emitting diode 2 passes through the light entrance surface 11 and reaches the transmissive region 123 of the first light exit surface 121. The light that has reached the transmissive region 123 of the first light exit surface 121 passes through the transmissive region 123 while being refracted, and then reaches the surface to be irradiated 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the paths of light rays in the lighting device 7. In FIG. 5, the paths of light rays that are emitted from the light source at small angles and reach the total reflection region 124 (see FIG. 2) of the first light exit surface 121 are described. The light that has been emitted from the light emitting diode 2 passes through the light entrance surface 11 and reaches the total reflection region 124 of the first light exit surface 121. The light that has reached the total reflection region 124 of the first light exit surface 121 is totally reflected at the total reflection region 124. The light that has traveled near the optical axis A is totally reflected to reach the second light exit surface 122, and then passes through the second light exit surface 122 while being refracted. In the case where a reflecting plate is provided on the side of the light entrance surface 11 of the illuminating lens 1, approximately the entire amount of light that has passed through the second light exit surface 122 reaches the surface to be irradiated 3. On the other hand, the light that has traveled away from the optical axis A is totally reflected to reach the second light exit surface 122, and then totally reflected at the second light exit surface 122 one or more times and reaches the bottom surface 13. Then, the light is reflected at the reflective layer 10, and at last, the surface to be irradiated 3 is irradiated with the reflected light.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the paths of light rays in the lighting device 7. In FIG. 6, the paths of light rays that are emitted from the light source at larger angles and reach the second light exit surface 122 are described. The light that has been emitted from the light emitting diode 2 passes through the light entrance surface 11 and reaches the second light exit surface 122. In the case where the second light exit surface 122 does not have a shape capable of totally reflecting a part of the light, approximately the entire amount of the light that has reached the second light exit surface 122 passes through the second light exit surface 122 while being refracted, and then reaches the surface to be irradiated 3.

Hereinafter, Examples 1 to 3 are given as specific numerical examples of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a lighting device in Examples 1 to 3 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Examples 1 to 3 are examples of a lighting device designed to widen the range of transmission directions for light from a 0.8 mm cubic-shaped light emitting diode as a light source. In FIG. 7, θi is an angle between the optical axis A and a straight line connecting the position of the light source (starting point Q) on the optical axis A and an arbitrary point on the light exit surface 12. In FIG. 7, θn is an angle between the optical axis A and a normal line at the arbitrary point on the light exit surface 12, that is, a normal line at a position on the light exit surface 12 reached by the light that has been emitted from the light source position (starting point Q) on the optical axis A at an angle of θi. Furthermore, in FIG. 7, sagY is a distance along the optical axis A between the light source position (starting point Q) on the optical axis A and the arbitrary point on the light exit surface 12.

Example 1

Table 1 below shows specific numerical values in Example 1.

TABLE 1 θ i sagY 0.000 2.362 0.521 2.364 1.039 2.370 1.552 2.380 2.059 2.392 2.558 2.406 3.050 2.421 3.533 2.438 4.008 2.455 4.475 2.473 4.933 2.491 5.384 2.509 5.827 2.528 6.262 2.547 6.689 2.567 7.109 2.586 7.521 2.605 7.927 2.625 8.325 2.645 8.717 2.664 9.102 2.684 9.480 2.704 9.853 2.723 10.219 2.743 10.579 2.763 10.934 2.782 11.283 2.802 11.627 2.821 11.966 2.840 12.300 2.860 12.629 2.879 12.954 2.898 13.275 2.916 13.591 2.935 13.904 2.953 14.212 2.971 14.517 2.989 14.819 3.007 15.118 3.024 15.413 3.041 15.706 3.058 15.995 3.075 16.282 3.092 16.567 3.108 16.849 3.124 17.129 3.139 17.407 3.155 17.683 3.170 17.957 3.184 18.229 3.199 18.499 3.213 18.768 3.227 19.035 3.240 19.301 3.254 19.566 3.267 19.829 3.279 20.091 3.292 20.351 3.304 20.611 3.316 20.869 3.327 21.127 3.339 21.383 3.350 21.638 3.360 21.892 3.371 22.145 3.381 22.397 3.391 22.648 3.401 22.898 3.410 23.147 3.420 23.395 3.429 23.642 3.438 23.887 3.447 24.132 3.455 24.376 3.464 24.618 3.472 24.859 3.480 25.100 3.488 25.338 3.496 25.576 3.504 25.813 3.512 26.048 3.519 26.282 3.526 26.515 3.534 26.746 3.541 26.976 3.548 27.205 3.555 27.433 3.562 27.659 3.569 27.884 3.576 28.108 3.582 28.331 3.589 28.553 3.596 28.774 3.602 28.994 3.608 29.213 3.614 29.431 3.620 29.649 3.626 29.867 3.632 30.084 3.637 30.301 3.642 30.519 3.647 30.737 3.652 30.955 3.656 31.175 3.660 31.395 3.664 31.618 3.667 31.842 3.670 32.069 3.672 32.298 3.673 32.531 3.674 32.767 3.674 33.008 3.674 33.253 3.672 33.504 3.670 33.762 3.667 33.953 3.672 34.176 3.673 34.397 3.674 34.616 3.675 34.833 3.677 35.048 3.678 35.261 3.679 35.473 3.681 35.684 3.682 35.892 3.684 36.100 3.685 36.306 3.687 36.511 3.689 36.715 3.690 36.918 3.692 37.120 3.693 37.321 3.694 37.521 3.696 37.720 3.697 37.919 3.698 38.117 3.699 38.315 3.700 38.512 3.701 38.708 3.702 38.905 3.703 39.101 3.704 39.296 3.704 39.492 3.705 39.687 3.705 39.882 3.705 40.077 3.705 40.273 3.705 40.468 3.705 40.663 3.704 40.858 3.704 41.053 3.703 41.249 3.702 41.444 3.701 41.640 3.700 41.836 3.698 42.032 3.697 42.229 3.695 42.425 3.693 42.622 3.691 42.819 3.689 43.017 3.687 43.214 3.684 43.412 3.682 43.611 3.679 43.809 3.676 44.008 3.673 44.207 3.669 44.406 3.666 44.606 3.662 44.805 3.658 45.005 3.654 45.205 3.650 45.406 3.646 45.606 3.642 45.807 3.637 46.008 3.632 46.209 3.628 46.410 3.623 46.611 3.618 46.813 3.612 47.014 3.607 47.216 3.602 47.418 3.596 47.6193 3.590 47.8210 3.584 48.0228 3.578 48.2246 3.572 48.4264 3.566 48.6282 3.560 48.8301 3.554 49.0319 3.547 49.2337 3.540 49.4355 3.534 49.6372 3.527 49.8390 3.520 50.0408 3.513 50.2425 3.506 50.4443 3.498 50.6460 3.491 50.8478 3.484 51.0496 3.476 51.2515 3.468 51.4534 3.460 51.6554 3.452 51.8575 3.444 52.0596 3.436 52.2620 3.428 52.4644 3.419 52.6671 3.411 52.8700 3.402 53.0731 3.393 53.2765 3.384 53.4802 3.375 53.6842 3.366 53.8886 3.357 54.0933 3.347 54.2985 3.337 54.5042 3.327 54.7104 3.317 54.9171 3.307 55.1244 3.297 55.3323 3.286 55.5409 3.275 55.7501 3.264 55.9601 3.253 56.1708 3.242 56.3823 3.230 56.5947 3.219 56.8079 3.207 57.0220 3.195 57.2370 3.182 57.4530 3.170 57.6700 3.157 57.8879 3.144 58.1070 3.131 58.3271 3.117 58.5483 3.103 58.7706 3.090 58.9941 3.075 59.2187 3.061 59.4445 3.046 59.6716 3.031 59.8998 3.016 60.1294 3.001 60.360 2.985 60.592 2.969 60.826 2.953 61.061 2.936 61.297 2.920 61.534 2.903 61.773 2.885 62.014 2.868 62.256 2.850 62.500 2.832 62.745 2.813 62.993 2.794 63.242 2.775 63.493 2.756 63.746 2.736 64.002 2.716 64.260 2.695 64.520 2.674 64.784 2.653 65.050 2.631 65.320 2.608 65.594 2.585 65.871 2.562 66.153 2.537 66.279 2.527 66.659 2.493 66.872 2.475 67.134 2.451 67.401 2.427 67.673 2.402 67.951 2.377 68.236 2.350 68.529 2.323 68.829 2.295 69.138 2.265 69.456 2.234 69.785 2.202 70.125 2.169 70.477 2.134 70.843 2.097 71.223 2.059 71.619 2.018 72.033 1.976 72.465 1.931 72.917 1.884 73.392 1.834 73.891 1.781 74.415 1.725 74.968 1.666 75.552 1.604 76.169 1.537 76.821 1.466 77.512 1.391 78.245 1.311 79.023 1.225 79.850 1.134

FIG. 8 is a graph obtained by plotting the values of θi and sagY in Table 1. FIG. 11 is a graph showing a relationship between r/R and θi-θn. Here, r/R is a value obtained by normalizing, with respect to the outermost radius of the lens, the distance in the direction parallel to the light entrance surface 11 from the optical axis A to the arbitrary point on the light exit surface 12, where r is the distance in the direction parallel to the light entrance surface from the optical axis to the arbitrary point on the light exit surface, and R is the outermost radius of the lens (see FIG. 7).

θi-θn is an angle of a light ray emitted at an angle of θi, with respect to a normal line at a point on the light exit surface 12 reached by the light ray, that is, an incident angle of the light ray on the light exit surface 12. As a condition of the total reflection region 124 of the first light exit surface 121, since the refractive index of the transparent material constituting the lens in Example 1 is 1.492, θi-θn is 42.1 degrees or more. Accordingly, FIG. 11 shows that in Example 1, the transmissive region 123 of the first light exit surface 121 is a narrow region in the vicinity of the optical axis and the total reflection region 124 is a wide region away from the optical axis. FIG. 11 also shows that in Example 1, the entire second light exit surface 122 totally reflects the light emitted from the starting point Q.

In Example 1, Rin, Rout, RLS, and R shown in FIG. 7 are 4.5, 5.5, 1.41, and 6.95, respectively. Accordingly, Rin/R is 0.65 and Rout/R is 0.79, and these values satisfy the above inequalities (1) and (2). Furthermore, in Example 1, the reflectance of the reflective layer 10 is 67.7%.

FIG. 14 shows the illuminance distribution on the surface to be irradiated obtained by calculation assuming that the lighting device of Example 1 (i.e., the illuminating lens in FIG. 8 and the light emitting diode) is used and the surface to be irradiated is placed at a distance of 16.4 mm from the light emitting diode. FIG. 17 shows the illuminance distribution on the surface to be irradiated obtained by calculation assuming that only the same light emitting diode as in FIG. 14 is used and the surface to be irradiated is placed at a distance of 16.4 mm from the light emitting diode. Each of FIG. 14 and FIG. 17 shows a curve indicating the distribution of illuminances on the surface to be irradiated when the illuminances are normalized with respect to the illuminance at the center of the optical axis being 1. A comparison between FIG. 14 and FIG. 17 shows that the illuminating lens is effective in increasing the illuminated area of the surface to be irradiated.

Example 2

Table 2 below shows specific numerical values in Example 2.

TABLE 2 θ i sagY 0.000 1.842 0.668 1.844 1.332 1.849 1.989 1.857 2.635 1.868 3.269 1.882 3.886 1.899 4.487 1.918 5.071 1.938 5.636 1.961 6.182 1.985 6.711 2.010 7.221 2.036 7.715 2.063 8.192 2.091 8.654 2.119 9.100 2.148 9.533 2.176 9.953 2.205 10.361 2.234 10.757 2.263 11.143 2.292 11.519 2.321 11.886 2.349 12.245 2.378 12.596 2.405 12.940 2.433 13.278 2.460 13.609 2.487 13.935 2.513 14.256 2.539 14.572 2.564 14.884 2.589 15.193 2.613 15.497 2.636 15.799 2.659 16.098 2.682 16.394 2.704 16.688 2.725 16.980 2.746 17.270 2.766 17.558 2.786 17.845 2.805 18.130 2.823 18.415 2.841 18.698 2.859 18.981 2.875 19.262 2.892 19.543 2.907 19.824 2.922 20.104 2.937 20.384 2.951 20.663 2.964 20.942 2.977 21.221 2.990 21.500 3.002 21.778 3.014 22.056 3.025 22.334 3.035 22.613 3.046 22.890 3.055 23.168 3.065 23.446 3.074 23.723 3.082 24.001 3.090 24.278 3.098 24.554 3.106 24.831 3.113 25.107 3.120 25.383 3.127 25.658 3.133 25.933 3.139 26.208 3.145 26.482 3.150 26.755 3.156 27.027 3.161 27.299 3.166 27.570 3.171 27.840 3.175 28.109 3.180 28.377 3.184 28.644 3.188 28.910 3.192 29.175 3.196 29.438 3.200 29.700 3.204 29.960 3.208 30.220 3.211 30.477 3.215 30.733 3.218 30.988 3.222 31.241 3.225 31.492 3.229 31.741 3.232 31.989 3.236 32.235 3.239 32.479 3.242 32.721 3.246 32.961 3.249 33.200 3.253 33.437 3.256 33.672 3.260 33.905 3.263 34.137 3.266 34.366 3.270 34.594 3.273 34.821 3.277 35.046 3.280 35.269 3.283 35.491 3.287 35.712 3.290 35.931 3.293 36.150 3.296 36.367 3.299 36.583 3.302 36.799 3.305 37.014 3.308 37.229 3.311 37.443 3.313 37.657 3.315 37.872 3.318 38.086 3.319 38.301 3.321 38.517 3.323 38.734 3.324 38.962 3.323 39.213 3.320 39.461 3.317 39.708 3.314 39.952 3.311 40.194 3.308 40.434 3.305 40.672 3.303 40.909 3.300 41.144 3.297 41.377 3.295 41.609 3.292 41.839 3.290 42.068 3.287 42.295 3.285 42.521 3.282 42.747 3.280 42.971 3.277 43.194 3.275 43.416 3.272 43.637 3.269 43.858 3.267 44.078 3.264 44.297 3.261 44.516 3.258 44.735 3.255 44.953 3.252 45.171 3.249 45.389 3.245 45.606 3.242 45.824 3.238 46.041 3.234 46.259 3.230 46.476 3.226 46.694 3.222 46.912 3.218 47.131 3.213 47.350 3.208 47.569 3.204 47.789 3.198 48.009 3.193 48.230 3.188 48.451 3.182 48.673 3.176 48.896 3.170 49.119 3.164 49.343 3.157 49.568 3.151 49.794 3.144 50.020 3.137 50.248 3.129 50.476 3.122 50.705 3.114 50.935 3.106 51.166 3.098 51.399 3.090 51.632 3.081 51.865 3.072 52.1004 3.063 52.3363 3.054 52.5733 3.044 52.8112 3.034 53.0501 3.024 53.2900 3.014 53.5309 3.003 53.7728 2.993 54.0156 2.982 54.2595 2.971 54.5043 2.959 54.7501 2.948 54.9969 2.936 55.2447 2.924 55.4934 2.912 55.7430 2.899 55.9937 2.887 56.2453 2.874 56.4978 2.861 56.7513 2.847 57.0057 2.834 57.2612 2.820 57.5176 2.806 57.7750 2.792 58.0334 2.777 58.2928 2.763 58.5533 2.748 58.8149 2.733 59.0776 2.717 59.3416 2.702 59.6067 2.686 59.8731 2.670 60.1409 2.654 60.4101 2.637 60.6809 2.620 60.9533 2.603 61.2274 2.586 61.5035 2.568 61.7815 2.550 62.0618 2.531 62.3444 2.512 62.6296 2.493 62.9175 2.474 63.2085 2.454 63.5027 2.433 63.8006 2.412 64.1023 2.390 64.4083 2.368 64.7190 2.346 65.0347 2.322 65.3559 2.298 65.6831 2.273 66.0169 2.248 66.3578 2.221 66.7066 2.194 67.0639 2.165 67.4304 2.136 67.8071 2.105 68.1948 2.073 68.5945 2.040 69.0072 2.005 69.434 1.968 69.877 1.930 70.336 1.890 70.813 1.848 71.311 1.804 71.830 1.757 72.372 1.708 72.940 1.656 73.536 1.601 74.161 1.543 74.819 1.482 75.512 1.417 76.243 1.348 77.015 1.274 77.832 1.196 78.696 1.113 79.613 1.025

FIG. 9 is a graph obtained by plotting the values of θi and sagY in Table 2. FIG. 12 is a graph showing a relationship between r/R and θi-θn. r/R and θi-θn in FIG. 12 are the same as those in FIG. 11.

In Example 2, the lens is made of a material having a refractive index of 1.492, as in the case of Example 1 described above. Accordingly, as a condition of the total reflection region 124 of the first light exit surface 121, θi-θn is 42.1 degrees or more, as in the case of Example 1. Accordingly, FIG. 12 shows that in Example 2, the transmissive region 123 is as narrow as that of Example 1, and the total reflection region 124 is narrower than that of Example 1. FIG. 12 also shows that in Example 2, the second light exit surface 122 totally reflects a part of the light emitted from the starting point Q and transmits the remaining part of the light.

In Example 2, Rin, Rout, RLS, and R shown in FIG. 7 are 2.50, 5.90, 1.41, and 6.00, respectively. Accordingly, Rin/R is 0.42 and Rout/R is 0.98, and these values satisfy the above inequalities (1) and (2). Furthermore, in Example 2, the reflectance of the reflective layer 10 is 97.7%.

FIG. 15 shows the illuminance distribution on the surface to be irradiated obtained by calculation assuming that the lighting device of Example 2 (i.e., the illuminating lens in FIG. 9 and the light emitting diode) is used and the surface to be irradiated is placed at a distance of 16.4 mm from the light emitting diode. FIG. 15 shows a curve indicating the distribution of illuminances on the surface to be irradiated when the illuminances are normalized with respect to the illuminance at the center of the optical axis being 1, as in the case of FIG. 14. A comparison between FIG. 15 and FIG. 17 shows that the illuminating lens is effective in increasing the illuminated area of the surface to be irradiated.

Example 3

Table 3 below shows specific numerical values in Example 3.

TABLE 3 θ i sagY 0.000 2.411 0.510 2.413 1.018 2.420 1.520 2.431 2.016 2.443 2.504 2.458 2.985 2.473 3.459 2.490 3.925 2.507 4.384 2.524 4.835 2.542 5.279 2.559 5.716 2.578 6.146 2.596 6.569 2.614 6.985 2.632 7.394 2.651 7.797 2.669 8.193 2.688 8.584 2.706 8.968 2.725 9.347 2.743 9.720 2.761 10.088 2.779 10.451 2.798 10.808 2.815 11.161 2.833 11.509 2.851 11.853 2.868 12.192 2.886 12.527 2.903 12.859 2.920 13.186 2.936 13.510 2.953 13.831 2.969 14.149 2.985 14.463 3.001 14.775 3.016 15.084 3.031 15.390 3.046 15.693 3.061 15.995 3.075 16.294 3.089 16.591 3.103 16.885 3.117 17.178 3.130 17.469 3.143 17.758 3.155 18.045 3.168 18.331 3.180 18.615 3.192 18.897 3.203 19.177 3.215 19.457 3.226 19.734 3.236 20.010 3.247 20.284 3.258 20.557 3.268 20.829 3.278 21.099 3.288 21.367 3.297 21.633 3.307 21.898 3.316 22.162 3.325 22.424 3.335 22.684 3.343 22.942 3.352 23.199 3.361 23.454 3.370 23.708 3.378 23.959 3.387 24.209 3.395 24.457 3.403 24.704 3.412 24.949 3.420 25.192 3.428 25.434 3.436 25.674 3.444 25.913 3.452 26.150 3.459 26.387 3.467 26.622 3.474 26.857 3.482 27.090 3.489 27.324 3.496 27.557 3.502 27.790 3.508 28.024 3.514 28.258 3.520 28.494 3.525 28.731 3.530 28.970 3.534 29.212 3.537 29.457 3.540 29.705 3.542 29.959 3.544 30.198 3.547 30.453 3.547 30.704 3.548 30.953 3.549 31.199 3.550 31.443 3.552 31.684 3.553 31.923 3.555 32.160 3.556 32.394 3.558 32.627 3.560 32.857 3.562 33.086 3.564 33.313 3.566 33.538 3.568 33.762 3.570 33.985 3.572 34.205 3.574 34.425 3.576 34.644 3.578 34.861 3.580 35.078 3.582 35.293 3.584 35.508 3.586 35.721 3.588 35.935 3.589 36.147 3.591 36.359 3.592 36.570 3.594 36.781 3.595 36.992 3.596 37.202 3.597 37.412 3.598 37.622 3.599 37.831 3.599 38.040 3.600 38.250 3.600 38.459 3.600 38.668 3.600 38.877 3.600 39.085 3.600 39.294 3.599 39.503 3.599 39.712 3.598 39.921 3.597 40.130 3.596 40.339 3.595 40.549 3.594 40.758 3.592 40.967 3.590 41.176 3.589 41.386 3.587 41.595 3.585 41.804 3.582 42.014 3.580 42.223 3.577 42.433 3.575 42.642 3.572 42.852 3.569 43.061 3.566 43.270 3.563 43.480 3.560 43.689 3.556 43.898 3.553 44.107 3.549 44.316 3.545 44.525 3.541 44.734 3.537 44.943 3.533 45.152 3.529 45.361 3.524 45.569 3.520 45.778 3.515 45.986 3.511 46.194 3.506 46.403 3.501 46.611 3.496 46.819 3.491 47.027 3.485 47.235 3.480 47.443 3.474 47.652 3.469 47.860 3.463 48.068 3.457 48.277 3.451 48.486 3.445 48.695 3.438 48.9038 3.432 49.1133 3.425 49.3230 3.418 49.5332 3.411 49.7437 3.404 49.9546 3.397 50.1661 3.390 50.3781 3.382 50.5906 3.374 50.8038 3.366 51.0177 3.358 51.2322 3.350 51.4476 3.341 51.6637 3.332 51.8807 3.323 52.0986 3.314 52.3174 3.305 52.5372 3.295 52.7580 3.285 52.9799 3.275 53.2029 3.265 53.4269 3.254 53.6521 3.243 53.8785 3.232 54.1061 3.221 54.3349 3.209 54.5649 3.198 54.7961 3.185 55.0286 3.173 55.2624 3.161 55.4974 3.148 55.7336 3.135 55.9711 3.121 56.2099 3.108 56.4498 3.094 56.6910 3.080 56.9333 3.066 57.1768 3.051 57.4214 3.036 57.6672 3.021 57.9140 3.006 58.1618 2.990 58.4107 2.975 58.6605 2.959 58.9113 2.943 59.1630 2.926 59.4156 2.910 59.6691 2.893 59.9234 2.876 60.1786 2.859 60.4346 2.842 60.6914 2.824 60.9492 2.807 61.2078 2.789 61.4673 2.770 61.7278 2.752 61.9894 2.733 62.2523 2.715 62.5164 2.695 62.7819 2.676 63.0492 2.656 63.318 2.636 63.590 2.616 63.863 2.595 64.140 2.574 64.419 2.552 64.702 2.530 64.990 2.508 65.282 2.484 65.579 2.460 65.883 2.435 66.193 2.409 66.511 2.383 66.838 2.355 67.175 2.326 67.522 2.295 67.882 2.263 68.256 2.229 68.646 2.194 69.052 2.156 69.478 2.117 69.926 2.074 70.397 2.029 70.894 1.981 71.420 1.930 71.979 1.875 72.573 1.815 73.206 1.752 73.881 1.684 74.605 1.610 75.380 1.531 76.212 1.446 77.106 1.353 78.069 1.254 79.105 1.146 80.223 1.030

FIG. 10 is a graph obtained by plotting the values of θi and sagY in Table 3. FIG. 13 is a graph showing a relationship between r/R and θi-θn. r/R and θi-θn in FIG. 13 are the same as those in FIG. 11.

In Example 3, the lens is made of a material having a refractive index of 1.492, as in the case of Example 1 described above. Accordingly, as a condition of the total reflection region 124 of the first light exit surface 121, θi-θn is 42.1 degrees or more, as in the case of Example 1. Accordingly, FIG. 13 shows that in Example 3, the transmissive region 123 is as narrow as that of Example 1, and the total reflection region 124 is as wide as that of Example 1. FIG. 13 also shows that in Example 3, the entire second light exit surface 122 totally reflects the light emitted from the starting point Q.

In Example 3, Rin, Rout, RLS, and R shown in FIG. 7 are 1.60, 6.25, 1.41, and 6.25, respectively. Accordingly, Rin/R is 0.26 and Rout/R is 1.00, and these values satisfy the above inequalities (1) and (2). Furthermore, in Example 3, the reflectance of the reflective layer 10 shown in FIG. 7 is 98.7%.

FIG. 16 shows the illuminance distribution on the surface to be irradiated obtained by calculation assuming that the lighting device of Example 3 (i.e., the illuminating lens in FIG. 10 and the light emitting diode) is used and the surface to be irradiated is placed at a distance of 16.4 mm from the light emitting diode. FIG. 16 shows a curve indicating the distribution of illuminances on the surface to be irradiated when the illuminances are normalized with respect to the illuminance at the center of the optical axis being 1, as in the case of FIG. 14. A comparison between FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 shows that the illuminating lens is effective in increasing the illuminated area of the surface to be irradiated.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a surface light source 9 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This surface light source 9 includes a plurality of lighting devices 7 of the second embodiment arranged in a plane, and a diffusing plate 4 disposed to cover the plurality of lighting devices 7. The lighting devices 7 may be arranged in a matrix as shown in FIG. 18. They may be arranged in a staggered manner.

The surface light source 9 includes a substrate 8 facing the diffusing plate 4 with the lighting devices 7 being disposed therebetween. As shown in FIG. 19, the light emitting diode 2 of each lighting device 7 is mounted on the substrate 8. In the present embodiment, a reflecting plate 6 is disposed on the substrate 8 to cover the substrate 8 with the light emitting diodes 2 being exposed.

The lighting device 7 emits light to one surface 4a of the diffusing plate 4. That is, the one surface 4a of the diffusing plate 4 is the surface to be irradiated 3 that has been described in the first and second embodiments. The diffusing plate 4 emits the light received on its one surface 4a from the other surface 4b in a diffused manner. The lighting devices 7 emit light individually toward a large area of the one surface 4a of the diffusing plate 4 so that the one surface 4a has a uniform illuminance, and upon receiving this light, the diffusing plate 4 emits the light diffusely. As a result, the surface light source capable of emitting light having less uneven brightness in the plane is obtained.

The light emitted from the lighting device 7 is diffused by the diffusing plate 4 so that the diffuse light returns to the lighting device side or passes through the diffusing plate 4. The light that has returned to the lighting device side and struck the reflecting plate 6 is reflected at the reflecting plate 6 and again enters the diffusing plate 4.

FIG. 20 shows the illuminance distribution on the light entrance surface (one surface on the side of the lighting device) of the diffusing plate obtained by calculation assuming that five lighting devices of Example 1 each including the illuminating lens in FIG. 8 and the light emitting diode are arranged in a line at a pitch of 60 mm and the diffusing plate is placed at a distance of 16.4 mm from the light emitting diodes. Small fluctuations in the illuminance distribution are attributed to a small number of light rays to be evaluated in calculating the illuminances. FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 show the illuminance distribution obtained in the same manner when the lighting devices of Example 2 are used and the illuminance distribution obtained when the lighting devices of Example 3 are used, respectively.

FIG. 23 shows the illuminance distribution on the light entrance surface of the diffusing plate obtained by calculation assuming that five light emitting diodes only are arranged in a line with a pitch of 60 mm and the diffusing plate is placed at a distance of 16.4 mm from the light emitting diodes.

A comparison between FIGS. 20 to 22 and FIG. 23 shows that the illuminating lens is effective in illuminating the light entrance surface of the diffusing plate uniformly.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of a liquid-crystal display apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This liquid-crystal display apparatus includes a liquid-crystal panel 5, and a surface light source 9 of the third embodiment disposed behind the liquid-crystal panel 5.

A plurality of lighting devices 7 each including the light emitting diode 2 and the illuminating lens 1 are arranged in a plane, and the diffusing plate 4 is illuminated by these lighting devices 7. The underside (one surface) of the diffusing plate 4 is irradiated with the light emitted from the lighting devices 7 to have a uniform illuminance, and then the light is diffused by the diffusing plate 4. Thus, the liquid-crystal panel 5 is illuminated by the diffused light.

It is preferable that an optical sheet such as a diffusing sheet or a prism sheet is disposed between the liquid-crystal panel 5 and the surface light source 9. In this case, the light that has passed through the diffusing plate 4 further is diffused by the optical sheet and illuminates the liquid-crystal panel 5.

The invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiments disclosed in this specification are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not limiting. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. An illuminating lens for spreading light emitted from a light source so that a surface to be irradiated is irradiated with the spread light, the lens comprising:

a light entrance surface through which the light emitted from the light source enters the lens;
a light exit surface through which the light that has entered the lens exits the lens; and
a bottom surface configured to surround the light entrance surface and to face oppositely to the light exit surface,
wherein the light exit surface has a first light exit surface and a second light exit surface, the first light exit surface being recessed toward a point on an optical axis of the illuminating lens, and the second light exit surface extending outwardly from a periphery of the first light exit surface to form a convex surface,
the first light exit surface has a transmissive region located in the center of the first light exit surface and a total reflection region located around the transmissive region, the transmissive region being capable of transmitting light that has been emitted from a starting point at a relatively small angle with respect to the optical axis and then reached the first light exit surface, when a position of the light source on the optical axis is defined as the starting point, and the total reflection region being capable of totally reflecting light that has been emitted from the starting point at a relatively large angle with respect to the optical axis and then reached the first light exit surface,
the second light exit surface faces toward the surface to be irradiated,
the second light exit surface has a shape capable of transmitting approximately the entire amount of light that has been emitted from the starting point and then directly reached the second light exit surface, and of totally reflecting approximately the entire amount of the light that has been totally reflected at the total reflection region and then reached the second light exit surface, and
a reflective layer is formed on the bottom surface to reflect light that has been emitted from the light source, totally reflected repeatedly at the light exit surface, and then reached the bottom surface.

2. The illuminating lens according to claim 1, wherein the light exit surface is axisymmetric with respect to the optical axis.

3. The illuminating lens according to claim 1, wherein where Rin is an internal radius of the reflective layer, Rout is an outer radius of the reflective layer, RLS is a radius of a smallest circle circumscribing the light source, and R is an outermost radius of the illuminating lens.

the bottom surface is flat, and
the reflective layer has a ring shape extending radially outwardly from the optical axis, and satisfies the following inequalities: RLS/R<Rin/R<0.78 0.75<Rout/R

4. The illuminating lens according to claim 1, wherein the reflective layer has a reflectance of at least 65%.

5. The illuminating lens according to claim 1, wherein the reflective layer reflects diffusely the light that has reached the bottom surface.

6. The illuminating lens according to claim 1, wherein the entire second light exit surface transmits the light that has been emitted from the starting point.

7. The illuminating lens according to claim 1, wherein the second light exit surface totally reflects a part of the light that has been emitted from the starting point and then directly reached the second light exit surface and transmits the remaining part of the light.

8. A lighting device comprising:

a light emitting diode for emitting light; and
an illuminating lens for spreading light emitted from the light emitting diode so that a surface to be irradiated is irradiated with the spread light,
wherein the illuminating lens is the illuminating lens according to claim 1.

9. A surface light source comprising:

a plurality of lighting devices arranged in a plane; and
a diffusing plate disposed to cover the plurality of lighting devices, the diffusing plate being configured to receive on one surface thereof light emitted from the plurality of lighting devices and to emit the light from the other surface thereof in a diffused manner,
wherein each of the plurality of lighting devices is the lighting device according to claim 8.

10. The surface light source according to claim 9, further comprising:

a substrate on which the light emitting diode included in each of the plurality of lighting devices is mounted, the substrate facing the diffusing plate with the plurality of lighting devices being disposed therebetween; and
a reflecting plate disposed on the substrate to cover the substrate with the light emitting diodes being exposed.

11. A liquid-crystal display apparatus comprising:

a liquid-crystal panel; and
the surface light source according to claim 9 disposed behind the liquid-crystal panel.

12. The illuminating lens according to claim 1, wherein:

the light entrance surface having a recess formed toward the light exit surface at the optical axis of the illuminating lens; and
the light source is configured to be disposed into the recess of the light entrance surface.

13. The lighting device according to claim 8, wherein an air space is provided between the light emitting diode and the light entrance surface such that the light emitting diode does not directly contact the light entrance surface.

14. The illuminating lens according to claim 1, wherein the reflective layer is disposed such that it is not irradiated by light which is directly emitted by the light source.

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Patent History
Patent number: 8558967
Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 12, 2010
Date of Patent: Oct 15, 2013
Patent Publication Number: 20100201910
Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Osaka)
Inventors: Tomoko Iiyama (Osaka), Syunsuke Kimura (Hyogo), Daizaburo Matsuki (Osaka)
Primary Examiner: Jessica M Merlin
Application Number: 12/704,813